Furnace-charging car



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APPLICATION FILED DEC- 16| 1.918

1,364,343. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

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FURNACE CHARGING cA'R; APPLICATION FILE!) DEC. 16. $918.

1,3643343. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

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FURNACE CHARGING CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- I6, I918. hggj ggg Batented Jan. 4,1921.

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FURNACE CHARGING CAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- l6, 1918.

1,364,343. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMSON D. WRIGHT, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

FURNACE-CHARG-IN G CAR.

Application filed December 16, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMsoN D. WVnIGH'r, citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Guyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFurnaceCharging Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furnace'charging cars, and more particularlyto cars for charging measured quantities of crushed or pulverizedmaterials into furnaces for treatment thereof in certain metallurgicalor industrial chemical processes.

In certain chemical and metallurgical processes a charge of crushed orpulverized material, such as native rock, roasted ore, or someintermediate crushed or pulverized product in a chemical process, ischarged into a furnace around a previously formed central core, such asa carbon rod, so that the carbon rod can later be utilized either as anelectrode or as a resistance element for heating the charge during thenext step in the metallurgical or chemical process. For

example, material is handled in this way in the process of fixation ofnitrogen from the air, in which process a charge of pulverized materialis deposited cold in a furnace around a carbon pencil which serves as aresistance element for heating the charge and thereby producing somechemical effect and solidifying the charge into a solid mass or cake,which is later cooled, pulverized and further treated.

The present invention relates entirely to the car and the mechanismthereon for receiving a measured charge of material and depositing it inthe manner stated in the furnace, and is suitable for use in any processin which material is handled in this way, so that further reference to aparticular process in which the car is used is unnecessarv.

The present invent-ion has for its object to provide an improved car ofthe character described which enables the'material to be received inmeasured quantities and deposited in the furnace around the centralcore, so as to build up a charge in proper form for furnacing. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a charging car so arranged as toshield the material from corn tact with the open air during handling ofthe material in the car and while depositing it in the furnace. Afurther object of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Serial No. 266,846.

the invention is to provide a charging car embodying a holding tank orreceptacle for the material which can be raised to an elevated positionto receive the material and later lowered to another position fordepositing the material in the furnace, and which receptacle is providedwith suitable valve devices and operating mechanism therefor so arrangedas to enable the material to be deposited first at the bottom of thefurnace around the lower portion of the central core and thenprogressively built up or piled around said core toward its upperportion. A further object of the invention is to provide a charging carincluding a receptacle for the material, a central shield or guard forthe core, and a controlling valve for the bottom outlet of saidreceptacle, said parts being movable vertically together or as a unitand also relatively movable vertically, thereby enabling all of saidparts to move down together for introducing the charge into the furnace,and to then move relatively to each other to form an outlet for thematerial and to enable it to be progressively deposited and piled uparound the core, after which the parts can be returned to originalposition for receiving another charge.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 1-1, Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan viewon the line 2-2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lowerportion of the car from the right in Fig. :2; Fig. 4 is a detailsectional elevation, on a larger scale, on the line 44.-, Fig. 2; Fig. 5is a detail sectional view of a controlling switch; Fig. 6 is asectional plan view thereof, on the line 6-6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail sectional elevation through one of the charging cans orreservoirs and its suspension device, the parts being shown just beforethe car reaches its lowest position in the furnace being charged; Fig. 8is a detail view showing the positions of the parts while the can isbeing elevated to discharge the load; Fi 9 is a detail sectional view ofone of the hatchway limit switches; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a canbody; Fig. 11 is a detail ele vation thereof, the view being taken in thdirection of the arrow A, Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a similar View in thedirection of arrow flexible supporting member, such as a chain *{Iorcable 22, which passes upwardly over two B, Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a planview of one of the vertically traveling screw actuated crossheads; Fig.1 1 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 15 is a cross section on the line 1515,

Fig. 13; and Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits andcontrolling devices. 1 Referring to the drawings the charging carillustrated comprises a suitable frame" or body 1 having a floor 2 andthe necessary posts, columns and cross members to support various partsof the apparatus. As the particular form of the frame work is notessential no detailed description thereof is necessary nor is it fullyillustrated in the drawings. The car frame is supported by the wheels 3adapted to travel along rails or tracks and may be provided with anysuitable propelling mechanism, such as a reversible electric motor 4driving a shaft 5 connected by suitable gearing, as shown in Fig. 3, toone of the wheel axles. This propelling mechanism also forms no part ofthe present invention and need not be further described.

In the floor 2 are one or a number of hatchways or openings 6, fourbeing shown, although more or less may be employed as desired. At eachof said openings is located a charge holding tank or receptacle havingvertical movement on the car through said opening. Except as hereinafternoted all of these tanks or receptacles and the operating mechanismtherefor are identical, so that in large measure a description of onewill suffice for all without repetition.

Each receptacle, as shown in Fig. '7, is in the form of a largecylindrical can having a body portion 7 provided with a top wall 8having a large central opening 9 surrounded by a cylindrical flange orwall 10 adapted to receive a suitable cover, such as the ordinary cantop indicated at 11.. This cover, when applied, protects the material inthe receptacle from contact with the open air. At the lower end of thereceptacle is located a funnel or hopper shaped bottom member 12preferably formed of a heavy casting to withstand the wear and tear ofservice, and whose walls converge downwardly toward the mouth or outlet13. Said outlet is normally held closed by a hollow bell shaped valvemember 141 having a downwardly flaring skirt, and which is secured tothe lower end of a tubular member 15 which serves as a shield or guardto receive the central core, as will hereinafter appear. Shield 15 issupported at its upper end by a cross head 18 traveling along verticalguiding ribs 19 on the lnner surface of the can wall. To said runnersare pivotally connected bails 20 provided at their upper ends with eyes21.

Each bail is connected to one end of a :idle sheaves or pulleys 23 andthen down- ,wardly at one side of the can, then over a sheave or uilley24 carried by a cross head 25, and thence upwardly, its oppositesupporting end being solidly secured to the car frame, as at 26. Each ofthe two cables 22 for supporting a particular can has its own set ofguiding sheaves or pulleys, and the vtwo pulleys 24 are secured toopposite ends of the same cross head 25. Said cross head is providedbetween said pulleys with a nut 27 journaled on trunnions 27 therein andtraveling upon the threads of a screw 28 whose opposite ends turn inbearings 29, 30, carried by the car frame, so that the screw has novertical motion but merely turns in its bearings. Cross head 25 also isprovided with suitable means for preventing it and its nut from rotatingon the screw while traveling vertically thereon, such as a horizontallyextending pin 31 traveling in a guiding slot between two verticallyextending channels 32 of the frame.

From the foregoing it will appear that the tank or receptacle includingits body 7, hopper outlet 12.andtop 8, have'vertical mo tion relative tothe central shield 15 and body is supported by and on its bell shapedvalve member 14., whose skirt at its lower end is larger than thedischarge opening 13 from the can, as shown in Fig. 7. Each can is alsoprovided near its upper end with one or a plurality, two being shown, oflaterally extending wings or stops 33, adapted to engage the floor orframe of the car when the can is lowered and limit downward movement.These wings or stops may be adjustable vertically on the cans in anysuitable manner or are initially attached thereto in the proper positionso as to stop the can during its downward travel at the proper positionwith relation to the furnace into which the material is being deposited.The can body may also be provided with parallel angle members 33 whichtravel along vertical frame guides 33 and thereby guide the can duringits vertical movement and prevent it from turning. When the screw 28 isrotated in the proper direction nut 26 travels upwardly on said screwand allows the can to descend until either the motor is stopped or thewings or stops engage the car floor.

This stops further downward movement of the can but further rotation ofthe screw permits the central shield 15 and bell valve 14 to continuedownward travel until the outlet from the tank is opened sufficiently topermit the material to how therefrom and be distributed by the bellskirt in all directions around the core.

The central core 34, around which the material is to be deposited, maybe pushed up into the shield 15 and there held by a latch or byfrictional engagement with said shield so as to be deposited in thefurnace when the can is introduced thereto and then be released from theshield so as to be left in the furnace while the charge is piled aroundthe shield, or said core may be stood up in the furnace before the canis introduced thereto and when the can comes down it is brought intoregistering relation with the core so that the core will enter theshield. The particular manner in which the core is manipulated is notessential, but it will be understood that the final downward movement ofthe shield and bell brings the bell to a position practically in contactwith the bottom of the furnace and below the out let from the can.

Suitable means is provided for latching the can and bell valve in theirdischarging relation just described, so that during the upward ordischarging movement of the can the parts will move upwardly together oras a unit with the outlet open. Preferably the can is introduced into acylindrical guard or casing previously placed in the'furnace and made,for example, of heavy paper or paper board. Said shield or guard islarge enough to receive the can and forms a wall to confine the crushedmaterial as it is discharged from the can and thereby enables theelevating or discharge movement of the can to progressively deposit thematerial in the casing 35 around the core 34 and progressively build uparound the core a c vlindrical mass.

The latching means referred to is as follows: Bails 20 extend throughsmall openings in the can top, and each bail is pro vided near its upperend with a laterally extending latching projection 37 having ahorizontal upper latching surface 38 and a lower inclined surface 39. Onthe outer surface of the can wall, opposite each bail, is a bracket 40to which are pivotally connected at 41 a pair of bent arms 42 connectedat their upper ends by a cross latching pin 43. Arms 42 are providedwith rearwardly extending plates 44 connected by a cross pin to a collar45 on a screw 46 passing loosely through an opening in the floor of thebracket 40. Below said floor the screw is provided with adjustable locknuts 47 and above said floor with a compression spring 48 workingagainst an adjustable collar 49.

The normal tendency of said spring is to push upwardly on the collar 49and turn arms 42 so as to move the latching pin 43 horizontally inwardtoward the center of the can. hen the can stops during its downwardtravel into the furnace the weight of the load in the can on the bellvalve 14 causes the bails 20 to continue to move downwardly. Latchingpins 43 thereupon ride upwardly over the-inclined surfaces 39 and intolatching engagement with the horizontal surfaces 38 of projections 37,as shown in Fig. 8, in which position the can body 7 is supporteddirectly by the bails 20 with its hopper bottom 12 above the bell 14.

The charge in the can is gradually discharged and distributed around thecore and within the guard 35 as the can moves upwardly and is fullydischarged therefrom before the nut 26 reaches the lower end of thescrew 28. While the can is moving upwardly and just after the chargetherein has been fully discharged, the upper ends of the screws 46engage stops 50 carried by the car frame. These stops are shown asthreaded upon screws 51 carried by a channel of the frame, so that saidstops may be adjusted a limited amount vertically. Said stops hold thescrews from further upward movement and compress the springs 48 so as tocause outward movement of the latching pins 43 and thereby release thelatching engagement, so that the can drops away from the bails to theclosed position shown in Fig. 7. The can is then ready to receiveanother charge after which it is again in troduced into the jacket 35 inanother frame.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for actuating the several shafts28, but preferably said mechanism should be so arranged that said shaftsmay be operated individually or collectively in any number so that anyone or more of the cans may be operated as desired. As illustrated thecar is provided with a can hoisting motor whose shaft is provided with apinion 53 driving a gear 54 on a horizontal shaft said shaft beingoperatively connected by the gears 56 to a parallel shaft 57. The motorand driving gearing are located near the center of the car, as shown inFig. 1, and the opposite ends of the two shafts 55, 57, are utilized toindividually drive the screws for the four cans shown. 7

The clutches and operating connections from the shafts 57, to theirrespective screws are substantially identical so that a description ofone will suffice for all. For

example, as shown in Fig. 3 one end of shaft is provided with a sleeve:38 adapted to be connected to rotate with said shaft by any suitableform of clutch 59. Clutch 59 is actuated by a lever 60 connected by alink 61 to one arm of a bell crank lever 62 whose opposite arm isconnected by a link 63 to the which is a circuit completing bridge memlower arm of the operating lever G l pivoted at 65 in the car frame.Sleeve 58 is pro vided with a bevel gear 66 meshing with a bevel gear 67on the screw shaft 28. lVhen the clutch lever 64: is pushed over to theleft in Fig. i the clutch is closed and, if the motor is running andturning the shaft 55, the screw 28 corresponding to the particular levere which has been pushed back is turned to produce vertical motion of thecorresponding can.

Although not essential, controlling devices are preferably also providedwhich involve cooperating relation between the clutches for mechanicallyconnecting the can hoisting mechanism to the hoisting motor and theelectrical circuits for controlling said motor, said controlling devicesbeing also arranged so that the operating mechanism for each canautomatically controls or limits the amount of can travel. For thispurpose suitable portions of the car frame are provided with automatictravel limiting switches, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 9.Each of said switches comprises a suitable casing 68 in which is aslidable rod 69 provided outside of the casing with an. antifrictionmember, sucroller 70. Said rod slides in suitable guides and is normallymoved in one direction, to

tie position shown in Fig. 9, by a compres sion spring ll. 72 representsa stop which limits movement of said roe to a position in which acontact 73 carried thereby is i contacting relation with sta LlOllll 7%.Two of these switches are provided ior each can, said switches beingsupported by the frame near the upper and lower ends of the screw 28 insuch position that th rollers '70 thereof will he engaged by the crosshead 27 at the opposite ends of tlitYQl of the nut 26, so that motion ofsaid cross head. as it approaches the end of its travel, will push inthe rod 69 and open the switch.

Each of the four clutch oaerating levers 66% also carries an insulatingblock 75 on her 76 cooperating with two stationary cents is 77, saidcontacts and the bridge 76 forming what may be termed a clutch.interlocking switch. All of the terminals 77 for the four levers 64: arepreferably mounted in the same board in proper cooperating relation tothe several levers, which are placed side by side, as shown in F 2.

Fig. 16 represents the circuit arrangement for controlling the mechanismof the car. 4; represents the propulsion motor and 52 the hoistingmotor, as before. At '78 are indicated the four clutch interlockingswitches, any one of which is closed by operation of its respectiveclutch operating lever. 79 79' indicate the ht travel limiting eig...,switches, which are in two series of four each, the two series being inparallel. One

series 79* includes the four switches at the upper ends of the screws 28for limiting downward travel of the cans, while the other switches 79are at the lower ends of said screws and limit upward can travel.Switches 79 are in series with an electro magnet 80 the energization ofwhich closes a switch 81 in the main motor circuit. Switches 79* are ina series with an electroinagnet 80 the energization of which closesanother switch 81 in the main motor circuit, but the two switches 81 and81 while both connected to the series field winding of the hoistingmotor, are connected by different wires to different contacts of thecontroller C. 82 indicates a triple pole double throw switch which canbe turned to one position to throw the propulsion motor 4: intooperating relation with the controller and line circuit or to a secondposition to throw the hoisting motor 52 into cooperating relation withthe controller and line circuit.

Consideration of the diagram shows that if one of the clutch operatinglevers 6% is thrown over to close a clutch and thereby connect one ofthe sets of hoisting mechanism to its driving shaft the subsidiarycircuit across the main line is completed through both sets of travellimiting switches and both magnetic switches 81 81 are closed. Thecontroller C can then be turned in either direction to cause raising orlowen ing movement of the screw, current flowing through one or the otier of the switches 81 Slhaccording to the direction of rotation of themotor and screw. For example, if the motor is hoisting the can thecontroller handle is turned to utilize the right half of the controllerin Fig. 16, and the motor current flows through the switch 81 but notthrough the switch 81. Therefore, when the can reaches its upper limitofmovement it automatically opens one of the switches 79, thereby openingthe subsidiary circuit and allowing switch 81", to be opened by itsspring. This breaks the circuit to the motor and the motor stops.Likewise, if any clutch is thrown in and the controller is turned toutilize its left half, Fig. 16, travel of the can to its lower positionopens the lower limiting switch and thereby allows magnetic switch 81 toopen. By properly setting the limiting switches 79, 79*, with regard tothe vertical travel of the corresponding cross heads the can can be madeto automatically stop in any desired upper or lower position. a

it will also be clear that by pushing in any two or more of theclutchoperating levers any desired group of cans may be either elevated ordepressed together. in other words the clutch operating levers pro videan individual control for the several cans and when operated bothmechanically connect the respective cans to their operating mechanismand also electrically connect the controlling mechanism for said canwith the electrical circuit, while the controller C, when operated,exercises uniform control of all of the cans whose clutch operatinglevers have been thrown over.

The apparatus described is of simple construction and enables materialto be easily handled in the peculiar manner stated and therebymaterially increases the output of the furnace.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottomopening, a valve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of said receptacle relative to the frame, and means on said framefor opening said valve when the receptacle reaches a low position andfor maintaining it open while the receptacle is raised.

2. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, avalve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of saidreceptacle relative to the frame, and means on said frame for openingsaid valve when the receptacle reaches a low position and formaintaining it. open while the receptacle is raised and for closing saidvalve when the receptacle is fully elevated.

8. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, avalve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of saidreceptacle relative to the frame, and means for automaticallycontrolling the amount of vertical travel of said receptacle.

4. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, avalve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of saidreceptacle relative to the frame, and means actuated by said movingmeans for controlling the amount of vertical movement of saidreceptacle.

5. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, avalve for said opening, means for producing vertical movement of saidreceptacle relative to the frame, and means for automaticallycontrolling the amount of vertical travel of said receptacle in eitherdirection.

6. In combination, a frame, a receptacle 8. In combination, a frame, areceptacle having a bottom opening, a bell shaped valve member closingsaid opening, means connected to said member for raising and loweringthe same, means for supporting the receptacle above said member whileraising the same to thereby discharge material from said opening, andmeans for releasing the receptacle when elevated whereby said valvemember enters and closes said opening.

9. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, a bellshaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said memberfor raising and lowering the same, and means for automatically limitingthe amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

10. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, abell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to saidmember for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting thereceptacle above said member while rais ing the same to therebydischarge material from said opening, and means for automaticallylimiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

' 11. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, abell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to saidmember for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting thereceptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby dischargematerial from said opening, means for releasing the receptacle whenelevated whereby said valve member enters and closes said opening, andmeans for automatically limiting the amount of vertical. travel of saidvalve member.

12-. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, abell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to saidmember for raising and lowering the same, and means controlled by saidraising and lowering means for limiting the amount of vertical travel ofsaid valve member.

13. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having bottom opening, a bellshaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to said memberfor raising and lowering the same, means for supporting the receptacleabove said member while raising the same to thereby discharge materialfrom said opening, and means controlled by said raising and loweringmeans for limiting the amount of vertical travel of said valve member.

14.. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having a bottom opening, abell shaped valve member closing said opening, means connected to saidmember for raising and lowering the same, means for supporting thereceptacle above said member while raising the same to thereby dischargematerial from said opening, means for releasing the member enters andcloses said opening,-and

means controlled by said raising and lowering means for limiting theamount of vertical travel of said valve member.

15. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a corereceiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve atits lower end for closing said opening, and means on said frame forproducing either relative vertical motion of said receptacle and shieldor vertical motion thereof as a unit.

16. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a corereceiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve atits lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield,and means for raising and lowering said cable.

17. In combination, a having an open bottom, a core receiving tubularshield within said receptacle having a hollow valve at its lower end forclosing said opening, a cable supporting said shield,

frame, a receptacle means for raising and lowering said cable, saidreceptacle having vertical motion relative to said valve, and means forsupporting said receptacle above said valve member while raising thesame.

18. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a corereceiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valve atits lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting said shield,means for connecting said receptacle to be supported by said cable abovesaid valve but independently thereof.

19. In combination, a frame, a receptacle having an open bottom, a corereceiving tubular shield within said receptacle having a hollow valveat'its lower end for closing said opening, a cable supporting saidshield, means for connecting said receptacle to be supported by saidcable above said valve but independently thereof or for releasing saidreceptacle and supporting the same directly upon said valve.

In testimony whereof I 'afliX my signature.

SAMSON D. WRIGHT.

